Coalition of Big City Health Officials Thanks Senate for Passing Budget Deal to Ensure Federal Funding of Public Health Programs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 1, 2019           

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Big Cities Health Coalition welcomes the U.S. Senate’s passage of a bipartisan budget deal, which will end the sequestration of domestic discretionary spending, enabling the nation’s public health infrastructure to continue to serve the American people without interruption.  The Bipartisan Budget Act averts the $55 billion in cuts due to take effect in Fiscal Year 2020, and also increases funding for non-defense discretionary programs by $56.5 billion over the next two years.  This deal will allow Congress to enact spending bills that continue the nation’s commitment in crucial public health programs that will improve the health and wellbeing of millions of Americans.

“Passing this bill means that America’s public health infrastructure is spared additional deep cuts that would severely impede investments in health research and prevention. There is no doubt that a continuation of the sequestration status quo would have exposed more Americans to unnecessary public health threats, at a time when a combination of climate change, disease outbreaks like measles, and unprecedented rates of obesity and diabetes weigh so heavily on American families,” said Chrissie Juliano, Executive Director of the Big Cities Health Coalition. 

“We urge the President to swiftly sign this bill in to law. Our coalition will work closely with members of Congress to ensure that longer term cuts to the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which supports essential local and state prevention efforts, like vaccinations, never take place. We’re glad to see Congress prioritize the health and well-being of all Americans, and will work to ensure it continues to do so.”

CONTACT: Max Mays mays@bigcitieshealth.org or 913-233-6830 

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About the Big Cities Health Coalition

The Big Cities Health Coalition (BCHC) is a forum for the leaders of America’s largest metropolitan health departments to exchange strategies and jointly address issues to promote and protect the health and safety of their residents. Collectively, BCHC member jurisdictions directly impact nearly 62 million people, or one in five Americans. For more information, visit https://www.bigcitieshealth.org.